Darwin Deason’s cliffside mansion, known locally as “The Sandcastle,” is now on the market for $108 million, positioning it to potentially break San Diego County’s real estate record. Located above La Jolla Bay, this architectural gem is reminiscent of the grandness of Versailles, spanning nearly 13,000 square feet.
If sold at the asking price, it would far exceed the previous county record of $44 million, set earlier this year by billionaire Egon Durban for a Del Mar property. Deason, who made his fortune by founding Affiliated Computer Services and selling it to Xerox, transformed this estate into an opulent retreat, featuring intricate stone columns, expansive balconies, and a private beach.
Originally built in 2005, the mansion was stripped down and rebuilt to reflect Deason’s vision of merging French elegance with the aesthetics of the iconic Hotel du Cap-Eden-Roc in Antibes. High-end designer Timothy Corrigan crafted the luxurious interiors, which boast extravagant mosaics, marble floors, and gold accents.
10 Bedrooms, Coffered Ceilings, Versailles Inspired Guesthouse
The estate, sitting on 0.8 acres, includes 10 bedrooms, a grand living room with coffered ceilings, and a dining room that accommodates 16 under a crystal chandelier. The guesthouse, inspired by Versailles’s Le Petit Trianon, features a nautically themed bar reminiscent of Deason’s yacht. Outside, amenities include a pool, fitness center, and two cabanas, alongside a boathouse that boasts slate roof tiles imported from China.
Deason has invested approximately $60 million into the property, not counting land costs, and has even imported $40,000 worth of sand from the same source used at Augusta National Golf Club for its picturesque white hue. Despite the extensive effort and investment, Deason has decided to list the Sandcastle, citing that he doesn’t use it as frequently as his other residences, which include homes in Dallas, a lake retreat, and a Cabo San Lucas vacation property.
